Arctech has signed a 1.5-gigawatt (GW) order with PowerChina to supply its SkyLine II single-axis solar tracking system for the Al Ajban Solar PV plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The project is part of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to increase the country’s clean energy capacity and reduce emissions.
The Al Ajban Solar PV plant will become one of the largest single-site solar power projects in the world once completed. The plant is expected to generate electricity to meet the annual energy needs of around 160,000 households. It is also projected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s carbon emissions by 2.4 million tons each year.
Arctech established its local operations in the Middle East in 2017. The company has set up a service center, an R&D center, two offices, and a manufacturing base. Arctech’s Jeddah Phase II manufacturing base is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2025. The company plans to achieve a local delivery capacity of 15 GW by combining its Middle East facilities with its global supply chain.
The Al Ajban project adds to other renewable energy projects in the UAE. The Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Plant has an installed capacity of 1.2 GW and is currently the world’s largest operational single-site solar PV project. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai is another large-scale renewable energy project. It has a planned capacity of 5 GW, with 1.6 GW already operational. The Shams 1 concentrated solar power plant in Abu Dhabi, with a capacity of 100 MW, is also part of the UAE’s clean energy portfolio.
The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s total energy mix to 50% by 2050 and reduce carbon emissions from the power sector.
